SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman was charged today with the special circumstances murder of her 92-year-old mother for financial gain in Huntington Beach.

Defendant: Cynthia Roberta Strange, 64, Irvine

Charged on Oct. 4, 2018, with:

One felony count of murder

Sentencing Enhancement

Special Circumstance – Murder for financial gain

Minimum Sentence: Life in state prison without the possibility of parole

Continued Arraignment on Oct. 19, 2018, time to be determined at Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

On or about Sept. 4, 2018, Cynthia Strange, the victim’s daughter, is accused of murdering 92-year-old Ruth Strange for financial gain at the victim’s home in Huntington Beach.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2018, officers from the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) responded to the victim’s home for a welfare check after a reporting party stated they were unable to contact her.

HBPD officers discovered Ruth Strange deceased in the pool of her home. The victim’s cause of death was drowning and she had multiple cuts on her head. HBPD investigated this case as a homicide.